Discover the world's longest continental volcanic chain

The world's longest continental volcanic chain discovered in Australia has a total length of up to 2,000km.

Find the longest volcanic chain in the world

In an article published in the September 14 issue of Nature, scientists say the continental volcanic chain stretches across Australia, from the Whitsundays region in North Queensland to the Cosgrove region in central Victoria.

The volcanic chain was created 33 million years ago , when Australia moved north through a hot spot in the mantle, also known as the mantle , the highest viscosity layer beneath the crust and above the outer core of Earth.

The world's longest continental volcanic chain in Australia.(Photo: NCI National Facility VizLab).

"We found that hot spots have formed volcanoes in Whitsunday and central Victoria, as well as some rare topographic features in New South Wales," Science World Report quoted Rhodri Davies, member. research from the Australian National University, said.

"The total length of the volcanic chain is nearly three times the length of the famous Yellowstone volcanic system on the North American continent . "

1. Japan: New islands due to volcanic eruptions are "blooming" 8 times
2. Volcanoes operate in the freezing zone

A large number of volcanoes in Australia are surprising, because they are located far from the tectonic plate boundary, where most volcanoes are found. The chain of volcanoes formed by molten lava flows emerging from the mantle, has a boundary at a depth of about 3,000 km below the ground.

The team also found that volcanoes formed in the Earth's outer crust, also known as lithosphere , have a thickness of less than 130km.

"Once we know the direct relationship between volume, chemical composition of magma and continental thickness, we can look back and have a better explanation for geological phenomena" , Ian Campbell, member of the research team, said.